Model year record

2003 Winnebago Journey recalls & problems

The 2003 Winnebago Journey has 4 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints5filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentOct 26, 2010

Equipment

Recall 10V52500018,461 vehicles

Problem: WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
Risk: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.
Fix: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.

EquipmentJul 29, 2009

Equipment

Recall 09V3000001,547 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING 1,547 MODEL YEAR 2001-2003 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD MODEL 1200LRIM REFRIGERATORS, MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2001 TO DECEMBER 31, 2002, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 1273701 AND 1536607, NON-CONSECUTIVELY. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK. IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE REFRIGERATOR CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED AFTER SOLUTION CIRCULATION HAS CEASED THE HEAT SOURCE COULD GENERATE VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. AT SUCH HIGH TEMPERATURES, THE COOLING UNIT COULD RUPTURE.
Risk: IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUES TO OPERATE, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD AND NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLE'S REFRIGERATOR WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 09E-027). OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD'S RECALL CENTER AT 1-800-767-9101.

EquipmentMar 4, 2004

Recreational vehicle/trailer › Lpg systems › Tank assembly

Recall 04V1140005,143 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN MOTORHOMES, THE LP TANK HAS STRESS ON WELD JOINTS AT THE POINT WHERE MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE TANK.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE STRESS CRACKS AT THE WELD JOINTS AND LEAD TO AN LP LEAK AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE DAMAGE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REINSTALL A CRADLE-STYLE CARRIER, AND, IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE LP TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-6939.

Fuel system, gasolineJan 15, 2003

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 03V026000114 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3126E HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED UNIT INJECTED DIESEL ENGINES WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY PUMPS (HEP8). THE PUMP COMPONENTS MAY EXPERIENCE A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF ROUGH RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE STALL DUE TO A LOSS OF INJECTION ACTUATION PRESSURE.
Risk: ONCE ENGINE STALL OCCURS, THE ENGINE CANNOT BE RESTARTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PUMP SERIAL NUMBERS AND REPLACE THE PUMP IF NECESSARY. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-800-447-4986 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-6966.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	2	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	1	0	—
EquipmentRecreational vehicle/trailer › Lpg systems › Tank assembly	1	0	—
Tires	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN X TIRES, SIZE P235/80/R22.5. TWO OF THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AS REPLACEMENTS. THE CONTACT LATER FOUND OUT THAT ONE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED SIX YEARS AND THE OTHER TIRE TEN YEARS BEFORE HE PURCHASED THEM. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN THE TIRES SINCE THEY WERE PURCHASED FROM A TIRE FACILITY THAT WAS 700 MILES FROM HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 500 AND 700 MILES AND THEN IT WAS PARKED FOR THREE MONTHS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN, HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD NOT HOLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE TIRES.…
Dec 16, 2009 · 51,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipeFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF 2 SCREWS THAT MOUNTED AN ELECTRICA TRANSFER SWITCH, WERE INAPPORPERATELY SCREWED INTO THE ENGINES EXHAUST MUFFLER. AFTER ABOUT 18,000 MILES OF ENGINE TORQUE AND VIBRATION, THE SCREWS ENLARGED THE HOLES ON THE REAR OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND IN THE MUFFLER ALLOWING FIREY HOT DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST FLAMES & GASES TO ENTER THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND TORCH THE WOOD TRANFER SWITCH STRUCTURE., AS WELL AS SEND CORBON MONOXIDE INTO THE COACH. THIS PROBLEM CAUSE ME TO STOP MY VEHICLE ON A MAJOR US INTERSTATE, BACK UP TRAFFIC FOR MORE THEN A MILE, AND DO AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF MY WIFE AN OUR TWO YORKIES. THIS EVENT CAUSE EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO…
Sep 19, 2004 · 18,900 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipeFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT OF 2 SCREWS THAT MOUNTED AN ELECTRICA TRANSFER SWITCH, WERE INAPPORPERATELY SCREWED INTO THE ENGINES EXHAUST MUFFLER. AFTER ABOUT 18,000 MILES OF ENGINE TORQUE AND VIBRATION, THE SCREWS ENLARGED THE HOLES ON THE REAR OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND IN THE MUFFLER, ALLOWING FIRE HOT DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST FLAMES & GASES TO ENTER THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND TORCH THE WOOD TRANFER SWITCH STRUCTURE., AS WELL AS SEND CORBON MONOXIDE INTO THE COACH. THIS PROBLEM CAUSE ME TO STOP MY VEHICLE ON A MAJOR US INTERSTATE, BACK UP TRAFFIC FOR MORE THEN A MILE, AND DO AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF MY WIFE AN OUR TWO YORKIES. THIS EVENT CAUSE EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO…
Sep 19, 2004 · 18,900 miles
Equipment › Recreational vehicle/trailer › Lpg systems › Tank assembly
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V11400O REGARDING LP TANK. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. VEHICLE WAS KEPT BY THE DEALER FOR OVER THREE WEEKS. *AK IT TOOK THE DEALER 3 WEEKS TO PERFORM A 3 HOUR RECALL. THE DEALER AND WINNEBAGO WERE NOT VERY COOPERATIVE. *NM
Jun 1, 2004
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH PLASTIC HINGE PIN SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE THROTTLE PEDAL TO DETACH. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE INSTALLED A TEMPORARY PIN, AND THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE TEMPORARY HINGE PIN WITH A PERMANENT STEEL HINGE PIN. *AK
Apr 1, 2003 · 2,200 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.